A confrontation between two groups of protesters outside the Senate escalated into a physical clash on Thursday afternoon, prompting police intervention near the GSIS Building.
The incident began shortly after 1 p.m. when a group of Duterte supporters gathered in front of the GSIS Building after police reportedly prevented a truck carrying food supplies from entering the area.
According to some supporters, the truck contained food intended for approximately 3,000 people. Because of the restriction, members of the group reportedly had difficulty transporting the boxes of food into the venue one at a time.
While the Duterte supporters were discussing the situation with police officers, another group composed of critics of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano arrived at the scene.
Tensions between the two camps quickly rose. What began as an exchange of heated words escalated into pushing and eventually punches between individuals from both sides.
The situation further intensified when members of the opposing groups threw bottles of water at one another, adding to the disorder outside the Senate complex.
The clash lasted for nearly five minutes before police officers stationed near the GSIS Building stepped in to separate the groups and restore order.
Authorities immediately intervened to prevent the confrontation from escalating further. No information was immediately released regarding injuries, arrests, or possible charges related to the incident.
The incident occurred as both groups were conducting separate protest activities outside the Senate, where heightened political tensions have recently drawn supporters and critics of various political figures to the area.
